5.
CONFIDENTIAL
THERE WAS NO REFERENCE IN OFFICIAL DISCUSSIONS TO HONG
KONG OR TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA/TIBET, THOUGH AMNESTY INTER- NATIONAL MOUNTED A MINOR DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE RETENTION
IN CHINA OF THE DEATH PENALTY. PRESS COVERAGE OF THE VISIT WAS
EXTENSIVE WITH ALL THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS DEVOTING CONSIDERABLE
SPACE TO COVERAGE OF HU'S PROGRAMME EACH DAY DURING THE VISIT.
PAESE SERA (COMMUNIST) PUBLISHED A LENGTHY SUPPLMENT ON CHINA
TO COINCIDE WITH THE VISIT. THIS COVERAGE REFLECTS BOTH THE
INFREQUENCY OF WI
TS BY CHINESE LEADERS TO ITALY AND THE WIDE
INTEREST AMONGS ITALIAN BUSINESSMEN IN COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES
IN CHINA. IN ADDITION TO HU'S MEETING WITH ITALIAN POLITICAL LEADERS, MEMBERS OF HIS DELEGATION HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH
REPRESENTATIVES OF A RANGE OF ITALIAN BUSINESS INTERESTS.
AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 21 JUNE HU REFUTED SUGGESTIONS THAT
CHINA WAS LOOKING FOR SUPPLIES OF DEFENCE EQUIPMENT IN THE
WEST SAYING THAT CHINA DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO
COMPETE WITH THE SUPERPOWERS IN THE ARMS RACE AND INTENDED
TO CONCENTRATE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. HE ALSO REMINDED THE
ITALIAN PRESS THAT CHINA ALSO FELT THREATENED BY SOVIET SS20
MISSILES AND HOPED THAT THE WEST WOULD TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT
IN INF TALKS WITH THE RUSSIANS.
6=
IN HU'S TALKS WITH PCI LEADERS BOTH SIDES ARE REPORTED TO
HAVE REAFFIRMED THE RIGHT OF NATIONAL COMMUNIST PARTIES TO FOLLOW
THEIR OWN PATH INDEPDENDENT OF ANY CENTRAL AUTHORITY. THEY
ALSO AGREED THAT MARXISM HAD TO BE ADAPTED TO
CONTEMPORARY PRACTICAL NEEDS. THE MEETING PROVIDED
FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THE 18 YEAR RIFT BETWEEN THE PO} AND
THE CCP (1962-1980) HAS HEALED.
BR.J-DGES
YYYY
FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING MOSCOW
(REPEATED AS REQUESTED)
LIMITED FED
HKD
MR. WILSON
2.
CONFIDENTIAL